Crown block



M. 8. BLACK July 14, 1931.

CROWN BLOCK Filed Jan.

CM w m w Z /W l Patented July 14, 1931 V UNI ED s'rTs PATENT OFFICE. I

MILLARD SUMTEB. BLACK, OF HUNTINGTOIIPABK, CALIFORNIA, ASSIG'NOR 'IO BAASH- ROSS TOOL COMPANY,INCQRPOBATED, 013 LOS ANGIE-LISTS, CALIFQB-NI A, A CQRPORA- TION OF CALIFORNIA CROWN BLOCK.

Application filed January 21, 1928. Serial No. 248,345.

This invention has to do with a. crown block and it is an object of the invention to provide a simple practicaland improved crown block for a derrick such as a well derrick.

0 In the course of drilling a deep well such as an oil well, it is necessary to provide a comparatively large and expensive crown block at the top of the derrick. A crown block necessary during drilling involves a number of sheaves and because of the manher in which it is used it must be heavy and well constructed. After the drilling of a well there are occasional operations requiring the use of lines in the derrick and it is therefore necessary to have a crown block on the derrick at all times. It is an object of this invention to provide a crown block construction including sections which when assembled form a complete effective crown block for use during drilling operations and which allows for the removal of unnecessary parts leaving only the required parts on the derrick when the drilling is completed. i

A further object of this invention is to provide a sectional crown block in which the parts or sections when assembled are related to carry or handle aline in a most effectiv and advantageous manner. s I A further object of this invention is to provide a crown block of the type mentioned in which the various partsare related and constructed for adjustment to suit any particular line conditions. Y

It is another object of thisinvention to provide various improvements in 'the arrangement and mounting of sheaves in a crown block. I i

The various objects and features 'of the 43 invention will be best and more fully understood from the following description of a typical form and applicationof the invention throughout which description reference is had to the accompanying drawings in 45 Which: I

Fig. 1' is a side elevation'of the construction provided by my invention showing the sections of the device assembled for use during drillingoperations.

Fig. 2 isa vlew of the partsshownin Figt rick of an oil well or the like.

'1 taken as indicated by line 22 on Fig. 1.

The crown block provided by this inventionis intendedprimarily for use on ader- In the drawings I have disclosed a typical form of well derrick 10, the top of which has a rectangular frame or head 11 for supporting a crown block. I The device provided by my invention is intended to bemounted on the head 11 of the derrick and includes generally two sections A and B. The section A is what I will term the lower section of the block and is designed to be carried by opposite side parts of the head 11. The section B I will term the upper section and is adapted to be carried by the I oil field practice threeor four medium size sheaves 17 are suflicient to handle ordinary work occurrmg after drilling and therefore Ihave disclosed a form of construction to accommodate about this number of sheaves. in this case the frame 15 includes a plurality of spaced beams 18, say three beams 18, adapted to extend across the. head 11 of the derrick to'be supported on opposite side partsof the head. Suitable spacing locks 19 are provided between the ends of the beams and bolts 20 are provided to secure the ends of the beams together to form a rigid frame structure. p

The bearings 16 are arranged in pairs on the beams 18 to carry trunnions 21 projecting from opposite sides of the sheaves. In the drawings I have shown split bearings 16 secured to the beams by. clamps 22 and studs 28 that extend from the clamps to carry the caps 24- of-thebearings. The clamps 22 enthe studs 23 are fixed to the clamps and project upwardly through the bearing caps 24 to carry clamp nuts 25. W lien the nuts 25 are ti htened the caps are tightened onto the bearings and the clamps 22 are drawn upwardly, thus setting the hearings in place on the beams. lVith this construction the bearings can be 'ifted or adjusted longitudinally of the beams to locate the sheaves 17 as de sired. It is to be understood that the sheaves 17 may be of any suitable size, both as to di ameter and width, and that the frame and sheaves are related so that the sheaves oper- *ith the necessary clearance between the beams of the frame.

The top section B of the block is provided as an auxiliary to the lower section A and is intended for use during drilling or other heavy continued operation. This section of he block includes, generally, base members to be applied to the head of the derrick, blocks 31 carried on the base members 30, beams 32 carried between the blocks 31 to exteiid over the section A, bearings 33 carried by the beam, a shaft 34 carried by the bearings, sheaves 35 carried on the shaft, spacer plates 36 on the shaft and between the sheaves supporting rods 37 carrying the plates and bearings '38 supporting the rods from the beams The base members 30 are adapted to be attached or fixed to the sides of the head 11 extending between the sides of the headthat carry the frame 15. The base members are arranged to extend longitudinally of their supporting derrick parts and therefore'extend parallel with the beams 18 of the block section A. In the preferred construction the base members are alike and each includes a plate 40 to engage the derrick part and a length of I-beam, or the like, 41 attached to the plate to project upwardly therefrom. In the preferred construction I use a comparatively large Ibeam in forming the parts 41.

The blocks 31 of the section B are mounted on the base members 30 to project upwardly therefrom and are preferably in the form of lengths of I-beam, or the like, arranged on the I-beam parts 41 as shown throughout the drawings. In accordance with my invention the blocks 31 are adapted to be mounted in various positions longitudinally of the base members 30, thus providing for adjustment of the sheaves 35 in the direction of the base members 30. In the drawings I have shown a simple form of construction in which the flanges of the blocks 31 and beam parts 41 are adapted to be attached or con 2 nected by means of bolts 43; the flange of the parts 41 being provided with a plurality of bolt openings to receive the bolts with the blocks set in various positions.

The beams 32 of the section B are carried between the blocks 31 and ther fore extendv transversely of the beams 18 of the section A. The base members 30 and blocks 31 elevate the beams 32 so that they are located a substantial distance above the beams 18 of the block A, the distance being suliicient to clear the sheaves 17 of the block A. The beams 32 are preferably I-beams, or the like, and their ends are attached, for instance, bolted, to the top or upper flange of the blocks 31. The beams 32 are spaced a sub stantial distance apart the spacing being sufficient to accommodate the desired number of sheaves 35 and spacer plates 36. In the preferred constructionthe ends of the beams are braced and spaced apart in the desired relation by end plates 50.

The bearings 33 are arranged opposite each other on the beams 32 so that they carry the shaft 34 in position transversely of the beams. The bearings 33 may be held on the top flanges of the beams 32 through clamps 22 and studs 23 the same as the clamps and studs used in mounting the bearings 16 on the beams 18.

The sheaves 35 are rotatably supported on the shaft 34 and are spaced apart by the plates 36. In accordance with my invention the plates 36 engage and support the shaft 34 at points between the bearings 33 and are in turn supported from the beams 32 through the rods 37 and bearings 38.

In view of the fact that the section A of the block'is intended for heavy continuous use it is preferred to make the sheaves comparatively large and to provide good durable bearings between the'sheaves and shaft. In accordance with my invention the spacer plates 36 project horizontally in each direction beyond the sheaves and have their projecting ends carried on the rods 37. Suit able spacing members or washers are provided on the rods between the plates as clear- 1y shown in the drawings. The bearings 38 which support the rods 37 from the beams 32 maybe of any suitable construction and may be adj ustably connected to the beams in any suitable manner, for instance, through clamps 22 and studs 23, as above described. In the particular construction illustrated the plates 36 project upwardly above the sheaves and their projecting parts are connected and braced by a rod 61 and spacing sleeves 62. With the construction just described and unit formed by the bearings 33, shaft 34, sheaves 35', spacer plates 36, rods 37 and bearings 38 c'an'be' adjusted to the desired position longi tudinally of the beams 32 and through this adjustment the sheaves 35 can be located or positioned in the desired manner with reference to the section A of the block.

In the general use of the block prox'ided bythis-invention the section A is permanently attached to the head of the derrick while the section B is mounted over the section Abeing fixed to the head of the derrick z the derrick.

so that it can be readily removed when no longer required for use. During normal drilling operations any of the sheaves can be used, it being preferredto confine use during drilling to the sheaves of the section B and avoid as far as possible using the sheaves of the section A. However, the direction in which the 'line or lines enter and leave the crown block may make it desirable to use one or more of the sheaves of section A, it being understood of course that it is desirable to have a line approach and leave a sheave in adirection substantially in line with the plane of the sheave.

It is to be noted that the sheaves of the section A can be adjusted individually to any desired position along the beams 18 and that the adjustments in the section B, that is, the adjustments provided between the blocks 31 and base plates 30 and between the sheave unit and beams 32 allows the sheaves 35 to be positioned in the desired manner either with reference to parts of the section A or with reference to the lines or other parts of When the drilling operations have been completed, that is, when the main part B of the block is no longer required for use, it can be removed and placed on another derrick for drilling while the section A can be left in place, thus providing the necessary .sheaves at the head of the derrick for ordinary incidental operations required after drilling.

Having described only a typical preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the specific details set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A crown block including a lower section to be mounted directly on a derrick, and an upper section to be mounted directly on the derrick to extend transversely of the lower section, the upper section including a beam, means for supporting the beam above the lower section and for adjustment in one direction, a sheave, and means supporting the sheave on the beam for adjustment in another direction. 7

2. A crown block including a lower section to be mounted directly on a derrick, and an upper section to be mounted directly on the derrick to extend transversely of the lower section, the upper section including a beam, means for supporting the beam above the lower section and for adjustment in one direction, a sheave, said means including base members for mounting on the derrick and blocks adjustably carrying the, beam, and means supporting the sheave on the beam for adjustment in another direction.

3. A crown block including a lower section to be mounted directly on a derrick, and an upper section to be mounted directly on the derrick to extend transversely of the lower section, the upper section including a beam, a Shaft, a 'group of sheaves on the shaft, and a bearing mounting the shaft on the beam for adjustment in one 1 direction, and means for mounting the beam on the derrick for ad ust- Jmentin' another direction.

members, spaced beams extending between the blocks, a shaft supported between the beams, a plurality of sheaves onthe shaft, spacer plates between the sheaves, and means supporting the plates from the beams independently of the shaft;

6. A- structure for mounting on a derrick including base members for attachment to the derrick, blocks supported on the base members, spaced beams extending between the blocks, a shaft supported from the beams,

a plurality ofsheaves on the shaft, spacer plates between the sheaves, and members engaging the plates and supporting them from the beams.

7 A structure for mounting on a derrick includin base members for attachment to the derrick, blocks adjustably supported on the base members, spaced beams extending between the blocks, a shaft, a plurality of sheaves carried on the shaft, and means for supporting the shaft for adjustment along the beams.

8. A structure for mounting on a derrick including base members for attachment to the derrick, blocks adjustably supported on the base members, spaced beams extending be tween the blocks, a shaft extending between the beams, a plurality of sheaves on the shaft, spacer plates arranged between the sheaves and in supporting engagement with the sh aft, rods engaging the plates, means supporting the rods on the beams for adjustment along the beams, and means supporting the shaft on the beams for adjustment along the beams.

9. A structure for mounting on a derrick including spaced supports, a shaft mounted between the supports, sheaves on the shaft, plates arranged between the sheaves and in supportingengagement with the shaft, and members extending between the supports at opposite sides of the shaft and supporting the plates.

10. A crown block adapted to be mounted on the horizontal head at the top of a derrick including two sections to be mounted directly.

plural ty of sheaves 4 newst on the head, one section extending directly over the other and beingdetachable from the head independently of they other, and sheaves carried by the sections, the sheaves; of one section being transversely disposed relative to the sheaves of the other section,

11. A crown block adapted to be mounted on the horizontal head at the top of a derrick including two sections tobe mounted directly 10 on the head, one section extending directly over the other and being detachable from the head independently of the other, a sheave carried by the upper section, and a mounting for the sheave whereby it is adjustable in opposite 5 directions horizontally. 12. A crown block adapted to, be mounted on the head at the top; of a derrick including,

a lower section to be mounted directly on the head, and an upper section to be mounted di- 2 rectly on the head independently of the lower section to extend transversely of the lower section, the upper sect-ion including beams, means mounting the beams on the head for adjustment in one direction, a sheave, and a 25 mounting for the sheave supported on the beams for adjustment in another direction.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 6th day of January 1928.

.0 MILLA'R-D SUMTER BLACK, 

